Malus plant named ‘E756-36’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Malus tree, ‘E756-36’, that is characterized by its fruit with skin that has a red over color with prominent medium sized lenticels, its fruit that is crisp with a pleasant tasting, its fruit that has a medium storage period, and its weak vigor.

Botanical classification: Malus domestica.

Varietal denomination: ‘E756-36’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of appletree, botanically known as Malus domestica ‘E756-36’, referred tohereafter by its cultivar name, ‘E756-36’.

‘E756-36’ arose from an on going breeding program conducted by theInventor in East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom. The objectives of thebreeding program are to develop new cultivars of Malus with novel traitswith a particular interest in include unique fruit characteristics.

‘E756-36’ originated as a cross made by the Inventor in 2003 betweenMalus domestica ‘Gala’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,637) as the female parentand an unnamed, unpatented proprietary plant in the Inventor's breedingprogram, reference no. Malus domestica ‘SA908-12’ (‘Falstaff’,unpatented, x ‘Pink Pearl’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 723), as the maleparent. The Inventor selected ‘E756-36’ as a single unique plant amongstthe seedlings that resulted from the above cross in 2006.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by budgrafting in 2011 under the direction of the Inventor in Italy. Asexualpropagation by bud grafting and stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘E756-36’ as a unique cultivar Malus.

-   -   1. ‘E756-36’ exhibits fruit flesh that is pink in color.    -   2. ‘E756-36’ exhibits fruit that has a crisp, juicy and sweet        flavor and texture.    -   3. ‘E756-36’ exhibits fruit that is useful as a dessert apple        (typically pink fleshed apples are more tart).    -   4. ‘E756-36’ exhibits fruit that can be used in fresh market and        processing.

The female parent of ‘E756-36’, ‘Gala’, is similar to ‘E756-36’ inhaving a moderately vigorous growth habit and fruit that can be used indesserts. ‘Gala’, differs from ‘E756-36’ in having fruit flesh that iswhite to yellow in color. The male parent, ‘SA908-12’, is similar to‘E756-36’ in having fruit flesh that is pink in color. ‘SA908-12’differs from ‘E756-36’ in having fruit with a less sweet and more tartflavor. ‘E756-36’ can also be compared to the cultivars ‘Pink Pearl’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 723) and ‘Howell TC2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,545).‘Pink Pearl’ is similar to ‘E756-36’ in having fruit flesh that is pinkin color. ‘Pink Pearl’ differs from ‘E756-36’ in having fruit that isconical in shape, fruit that has a tarter flavor and fruit skin colorthat is red with an orange flush. ‘Howell TC2’ is similar to ‘E756-36’in having distinctive fruit and fruit flesh coloration. ‘Howell TC2’differs from ‘E756-36’ in having fruit flesh that is dark pink and redin color and fruit that has a tart flavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrates the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new apple tree. The photograph wastaken of fruit on a 2 year-old plant of ‘E756-36’ as grown outdoors inthe ground in East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of a tree in fruit of‘E756-36’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a fruit the‘E756-36’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the fruit flesh of‘E756-36’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of the flowers of‘E756-36’.

The photograph in FIG. 5 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘E756-36’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Malus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new apple variety asobserved on two year-old plants as grown outdoors in the ground in EastMalling, Kent, United Kingdom. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmentalconditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

-   Tree description:    -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous fruiting tree.        -   Plant habit.—Ramified, upright.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 2.55 m in height and 1.42 m            in width.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 8.        -   Disease and pest resistance/susceptibility.—None noted.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative budding, grafting and stem.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.-   Description of branches:    -   -   Frequency.—Medium.        -   Angle.—Upright        -   Bearing.—Predominantly spur-bearing, some bearing on tips.        -   Bark color.—201C, with underlying 177A.-   Description of one year-old shoots:    -   -   Pubescence on upper one year-old shoot.—Weak.        -   Shine of bark.—Moderate.        -   Flexibility.—Medium to strong.        -   Thickness of shoot at center of middle internode.—Average of            6.6 mm.        -   Bark color.—201C, with underlying 177A.        -   Shoot angle.—Approximately 60°.        -   Lenticels.—Prominent, circular in shape, 8.45 mm in length            and diameter, 101 per sq. cm, 155C in color.-   Description of growing shoots:    -   -   Color of growing tip of shoot.—139D.        -   Shape of shoot tips leaves in cross section.—Slightly            carinate.        -   Pubescence of shoot tip leaves.—Moderate on lower leaf            surface.        -   Color of shoot tip leaves.—Both surfaces 144A.        -   Distribution of color other than green on shoot tips            leaves.—151A, outer margins 175A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Leaf orientation.—Upward.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 219 per lateral branch        -   Leaf size.—New shoot leaf; average of 8.5 cm in length, 4.6            cm in width, fruit spur leaf; 5.7 cm in length, 3.1 cm in            width.        -   Leaf apex.—Mucronate to cuspidate.        -   Leaf base.—Rounded to slightly oblique.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; glossy, lower surface;            glabrous.        -   Leaf margin.—Crenulate to serrulate.        -   Leaf color.—Young; upper surface 144A, lower surface 146C,            mature; upper surface 141A, lower surface 146C.        -   Leaf anthocyanin on upper surface.—Present on base of            petioles and veins.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface between 180B and 160D            in color, lower surface 160D in color.        -   Petiole size.—Average of 2.2 cm in length.        -   Petiole color.—Upper surface 144D, 181A at base, lower            surface 145C.        -   Stipules.—Average of 7.8 mm in length, 141A in color.-   Flower description:    -   -   Blooming period.—April in East Mailing, Kent, United            Kingdom.        -   Number of flowers.—Average of 5 per spur.        -   Inflorescence type.—Corymb of rotate flowers.        -   Flower buds.—Average of 1.7 cm in length, 0.7 cm in            diameter, the bud color at balloon stage is dark pink (186B)            at the base with a lighter shade of pink on the tip (186D),            elliptic with an obtuse tip in shape.        -   Flower size.—Up to 3.5 cm in diameter and 3.6 cm in depth.        -   Flower fragrance.—Mild.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Petals.—5 per flower, un-fused, sometimes overlapping, ovate            in shape, round apex, round base, entire margin, up to 2.5            cm in length and 1.3 cm in width, color; when opening upper            and lower surface a blend of 155A and 186B, when fully open            upper surface 155A, slightly tinged with 186B, when fully            open lower surface 186B, upper and lower surface silky,            glabrous.        -   Sepals.—5 per flower, slight to moderately covered with            villous hairs on both surfaces, linear in shape, entire            margin, acute apex, intercalate, average of 9.5 mm in length            and 4 mm in width, young and mature upper and lower surface            color 194A.        -   Calyx.—Inverted cone shape, 8.8 mm in height, 4.5 mm in            diameter.        -   Pedicel.—Average of 2 cm in length and 1.2 mm in width,            glabrous surface, 194A in color.        -   Pistil.—Compound carpel with 5 stigmas fused at base, style            and stigma together measure 6 mm in length, color is 160B,            turning into 162A as they mature, the ovary is inferior and            the stigmas are just below the height of the anthers.        -   Stamens.—Average of 20, anther; basifixed in shape, 160B in            color and 2.5 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width, pollen; none            observe.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Fruit size.—Medium, 6.52 cm in diameter, average of 6.73 cm            in height.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—Two fifths of the length from            the proximal to the distal end.        -   Fruit shape.—Conic.        -   Fruit symmetry.—Slightly asymmetric.        -   Fruit prominence of ribbing.—Weak.        -   Fruit aperture of eye.—Open, eye basin: Deep and broad, an            average of 2.42 cm in depth and 5.4 mm in width.        -   Persistence of calyx.—Persistent.        -   Length of sepal.—Average of 1.06 cm.        -   Spacing of sepals at base.—2.44 mm.        -   Stalk.—Thin to medium thickness, an average of 2.2 mm thick            and 2.6 cm in length.        -   Depth of stalk cavity.—Broad and medium depth, an average of            1.04 cm in depth, and 3.1 cm in width.        -   Relief of surface.—Smooth.        -   Skin.—Non-waxy, texture; thin, and smooth.        -   Skin color.—Ground color of skin: orange yellow (168B),            over-color of skin: pink orange (179B), pattern of            over-color: blush with some mottling.        -   Presence of russet.—Around stalk basin toward the eye basin,            5% of apples heavily russeted.        -   Lenticels.—1.18 mm in diameter, prominent, greyed-orange            (163D).        -   Color of flesh.—A blend of 180D and 179B, core 161D.        -   Distinctness of core line.—Low.        -   Aperture of locules.—Fully open.        -   Fruit maturity date.—Approximate harvest date is first week            of September in East Mailing, Kent, United Kingdom.        -   Browning of flesh.—High resistance.        -   Texture of flesh.—Crisp and juicy.        -   Cropping frequency.—Annual cropping.        -   Acidity.—3.4 pH, titratable acid 0.71±0.02 g malic acid/100            ml.        -   Brix.—An average of 14.2%.        -   Seed.—Average of 5 per fruit, ranges in groups 166 and 200,            ovoid to somewhat deltoid in shape, an average of 9 mm in            length and 5.5 mm in width and 2.8 mm in thickness.        -   Storage life.—3 to 4 months in common storage (average            temperature of 34° F.).

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Malus tree named ‘E756-36’ as herein illustrated and described. 